The 25-year old, who captained the Tigers to promotion from the Championship last season, has spent the first half of this term on loan with Forest but is now the subject of a significant bid from Reading.

"The way it stands is we've have a substantial offer from Reading," Bruce told the BBC. "Ultimately it's always in Jack's hands, but Nottingham Forest have to come to the table and play ball with us.

"We will be calling Jack and the ball is now in Nottingham Forest's court. He is available, we've said that to everybody and we'll see what happens.

"My job is to look after the interests of the club and if somebody is offering us a lot of money then we have to look at it, it's as simple as that.

"We obviously let him go on loan as there were doubts about his knee and we understand that.

"He has gone there and done very well, but if they think they are going to get him for nothing, then we've got a decision to make."

About the author

Andrew Slevison is an avid sports fan, particularly of the world game. The Melbourne, Australia native, who has spent time living in London and travelling South America, takes a keen interest in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer and rates his best live footballing moment as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.